Domino score keeper

ABSTRACT

A domino score keeper comprises a rectangular frame, a plurality of rigid wires spanning between two opposite sides of the rectangular frame, a plurality of beads strung on each rigid wire, and a control circuit coupled to the plurality of beads configured to communicate with a remote controller and operable to effect positional displacement of at least one bead along the rigid wire under the control of the remote controller.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/963,407, filed on Dec. 3, 2013.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of gaming devices,and more particularly to a domino score keeper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a domino scorekeeper according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a dominoscore keeper according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a domino scorekeeper 10 according to the present disclosure. The domino score keeper10 includes a sturdy rectangular frame 12 that holds a plurality ofrigid wires 14 that span two opposed sides of the frame 12. Each of thewires 14 includes a plurality of beads 16 strung thereon. In a preferredembodiment, ten beads 16 are strung on each wire 14, where five adjacentbeads are of one color and another five adjacent beads are of adifferent color. The beads may be constructed of plastic, glass,semi-precious stones, metal, and another of other suitable materials.The domino score keeper 10 may include beads strung on four or fiverigid wires, but the number can be varied according to personalpreferences.

The domino score keeper 10 may be sized for handheld or tabletopapplications, or be constructed of larger sizes for wall-mountedremote-viewing applications (e.g., suitable for spectators).

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of anelectronic domino score keeper 20 according to the present disclosure.The electronic domino score keeper 20 comprises the domino score keeper10 coupled to a control circuit 22. The domino score keeper 10 maycomprise one or more light sources such as light emitting diodes (LED)that are also coupled to the control circuit 22. For example, each beadmay include an LED that may emit a steady light or turn on/off accordingto a pattern. The frame 12 may also include one or more LEDs. The LEDsmay emit one or a number of different color light. The control circuit22 is in wireless communication with a remote control 24 such as amobile telephone according to a known communication protocol. An app onthe mobile telephone may be used to control several aspects of thedomino score keeper 10. For example, the user may use the app toremotely move the beads 16 on the domino score keeper 10. The app maydisplay an image of the domino score keeper, and the user may use thetouch screen to select and move particular beads on the domino scorekeeper. The user may further instruct the control circuit 22 to light upone or more of the LEDs in the domino score keeper 10.

In addition to keeping score for dominos and other games, the devicedisclosed herein may also be used for other purposes, includingeducational and therapeutic uses. School children may use the device tolearn to count, for example. Physical therapists may use the device todevelop and improve a patient's motor skills in the hands and fingers,for example. Other uses are also contemplated herein.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However,modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodimentsdescribed above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and dominoscore keeper described herein thus encompass such modifications,variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodimentsdescribed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A domino score keeper comprising: a rectangularframe; a plurality of rigid wires spanning between two opposite sides ofthe rectangular frame; a plurality of beads strung on each rigid wire;and a control circuit coupled to the plurality of beads configured tocommunicate with a remote controller and operable to effect positionaldisplacement of at least one bead along the rigid wire under the controlof the remote controller.
 2. The domino score keeper of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of LEDs coupled to and under the control of thecontrol circuit.
 3. The domino score keeper of claim 1, wherein theremote controller comprises a mobile telephone executing an appconfigured to wirelessly transmit instructions to the control circuit.4. The domino score keeper of claim 1, wherein ten beads are strung oneach rigid wire.
 5. The domino score keeper of claim 1, wherein fiveadjacent beads of a first color and five additional beads of a secondcolor are strung on each rigid wire.
 6. A domino score keepercomprising: a rectangular frame; a plurality of rigid wires spanningbetween two opposite sides of the rectangular frame; a plurality ofbeads strung on each rigid wire; and a control circuit coupled to theplurality of beads configured to communicate with an app executing on amobile telephone and operable to effect positional displacement of atleast one bead along the rigid wire under the control of the remotecontroller.
 7. The domino score keeper of claim 6, further comprising aplurality of LEDs coupled to the control circuit, and being configuredto turn on/off being controlled by the app executing on the mobiletelephone.